FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 285

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RIBACK WILSON (25), JOHNSON (61), FARNEN, OSTMANN,

HARLAN AND BARRY.

Read 1^st time January 4, 2001, and 1000 copies ordered printed.

TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk

0084L.03I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 192, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to Missouri centers of excellence in women's health.

Section A. Chapter 192, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 192.972, to read as follows:

192.972. 1. The department of health shall designate "Missouri Centers of Excellence in Women's Health" which shall be located in leading academic medical institutions in Missouri. The centers shall be selected on a competitive basis. The department shall establish the criteria for selecting the centers, taking into consideration the principles established for National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health by the Office on Women's Health within the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

2. The purpose of the centers shall be to devise new standards of excellence in women's health, and assist in the development of multidisciplinary, integrated collaborations to provide women with convenient, comprehensive health care, expand basic and clinical research on women's health and promote education of health care providers and the community regarding the unique needs and aspects of women's health. The comprehensive goal of the centers shall be the improvement of the health status of all women across their life span through:

(1) The improvement of women's access to health care services and information;

(2) The advancement of a women's health research agenda involving both basic and clinical research in women's health;

(3) The targeting of financial resources and support provided by the institution and external sources;

(4) The promotion of women to leadership positions in health care provision, teaching and research;

(5) The fostering of greater community outreach in women's health; and

(6) The integration of women's health in medical curriculum, clinical training and postdoctoral research.

3. The department of health may, subject to appropriations, use, administer and dispose of any gifts, grants or in-kind services and may award grants to qualifying centers to carry out the purpose and goals established in subsection 2 of this section for the Missouri centers of excellence in women's health.

4. The department of health may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.

Missouri House of Representatives